Happy tunes

Dear Editor:

Some might say there are many drawbacks to living on Indian Hill Boulevard: traffic, noise and pollution are just a few of the supporting arguments. However, all of the drawbacks are erased from my mind during this time of year as soon as I hear the Claremont High School Marching Band practice. I stand in my kitchen and dance and enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds of the horns, drums and flags. 

Keep up the great work. This year’s band group is stellar. Go Wolfpack!

Donna S. Lowe

Claremont

Why I celebrate the UN

Dear Editor:

Yesterday, October 24, was United Nations Day. Like me, the UN is 68 years old. And UN Day couldn’t have come at a better time: With all the chaos going on in our nation’s capital, it’s a good reminder of the world outside our borders that also very much needs our attention.

As President Obama said in his speech to the UN General Assembly last month, the US cannot turn its back to the rest of the world, even in times of trouble at home. He also reaffirmed his commitment to a strong US-UN relationship, saying:

“That’s why we look to the future not with fear, but with hope, and that’s why we remain convinced that this community of nations can deliver a more peaceful, prosperous and just world to the next generation.”

I applaud him for it. Remaining strongly engaged with the UN is not only the right thing to do as the world body tackles some of the biggest issues in human history—from climate change to chemical weapons—but it’s also the smart thing to do.

The UN serves our own national security and foreign policy interests in a big way. Our leadership ensures that American priorities are heard on the world’s stage, including promoting democracy, human rights and emergency humanitarian aid in times of need.

As the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO) strive to care for over 6 million Syrians who are displaced or living as refugees; as UN peacekeepers risk their lives to bring peace to war-torn countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo; and as the UN oversees the destruction of Syria’s deadly chemical weapons stockpile, I’m proud to say that the United Nations has my support for all its work to build a safer, healthier and more just world for future generations— all the way from Claremont.

And that goes for every day of the year.

Mel Boynton

President of Southern California United Nations Association of the USA

Claremont